Zoning Moratorium
A 12-month pause on development approvals under the new Hamlet Center zoning districts in New City, Congers, Valley Cottage, and West Nyack — so the town can complete the project-specific environmental review the law requires before a wave of high-density approvals becomes permanent.
Over the past few years, Clarkstown has rewritten major parts of its zoning code — creating and amending the Hamlet Center Zoning Districts in New City, Congers, Valley Cottage, and West Nyack. These changes open the door to denser, higher-impact development in the heart of our communities. The problem: the environmental review behind them never took the careful, project-level "hard look" that New York law requires. This proposed local law hits pause for twelve months so that growth happens by plan, not by accident.
Clarkstown residents deserve development that follows the town's own long-range vision — not a wave of approvals rushed through before anyone has studied what they will actually do to our roads, our neighborhoods, and our quality of life. A 12-month moratorium gives the town the time to get it right.
Why this proposal is on the table
What the moratorium would do
Why this matters now
Once a project is approved and built, there is no undo button. A short, lawful pause today protects Clarkstown from years of regret tomorrow — and ensures that when we do grow, we grow the right way, in line with the plan our community already adopted.
Common questions
What would the proposed Zoning Moratorium do?
A 12-month pause on development approvals under the new Hamlet Center zoning districts in New City, Congers, Valley Cottage, and West Nyack — so the town can complete the project-specific environmental review the law requires before a wave of high-density approvals becomes permanent.
Is the Zoning Moratorium in effect in Clarkstown?
No. It is a draft local law published by the Bondar for Clarkstown campaign for public discussion. To take effect it would have to be introduced, noticed for a public hearing and adopted by the Clarkstown Town Board.
Why is a Zoning Moratorium being proposed now?
Once a project is approved and built, there is no undo button. A short, lawful pause today protects Clarkstown from years of regret tomorrow — and ensures that when we do grow, we grow the right way, in line with the plan our community already adopted.
Is the moratorium a permanent ban on building in Clarkstown?
No. It is a 12-month pause on approvals under the Hamlet Center zoning districts in New City, Congers, Valley Cottage, and West Nyack, and it expires automatically twelve months from its effective date unless the Town Board votes to extend it after a public hearing.
Which parts of town does the moratorium affect?
Applications affected by the 2023 and 2025 Hamlet Center Zoning District changes in New City, Congers, Valley Cottage, and West Nyack. Ordinary permits for existing homes and businesses outside those districts are not affected.
What happens during the twelve months?
The town completes the project-specific environmental review, cumulative traffic study, impact-fee framework, and housing needs assessment that the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Update and SEQRA call for, so that decisions are made with the facts in hand.
Where can I read the full text of the draft?
The complete draft of the Zoning Moratorium is published as a PDF on this page, and all four of the campaign's proposed laws are collected on the Proposed Laws page.
How do I comment on this proposal?
This is a draft for discussion — your feedback as a resident, business owner, or neighbor is exactly what this process is meant to capture. Use the feedback form and tell us what we got wrong.